Shloka 8
शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्
The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā
एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्री राक्षस्या वाक्यकोविदः।ततश्शूर्पणखीं स्मित्वा लक्ष्मणो युक्तमब्रवीत्।।।।
evam uktas tu saumitrī rākṣasyā vākyakovidaḥ | tataḥ śūrpaṇakhīṃ smitvā lakṣmaṇo yuktam abravīt ||
राक्षसी के ऐसा कहने पर वाक्य-निपुण सौमित्रि लक्ष्मण शूर्पणखा की ओर देखकर मुस्कुराए और फिर युक्तियुक्त वचन बोले।
Thus addressed by the demoness Lakshmana, son of Sumitra, well-versed in the use of words gave her a befitting reply :
FAQs
Appropriate speech (yukta-vāk) is part of dharma: one responds to provocation with composure and fitting words rather than aggression.
The narrator frames Lakṣmaṇa’s response: he is about to answer Śūrpaṇakhā’s proposal.
Lakṣmaṇa’s discernment and rhetorical skill—he can speak aptly under pressure.